Continuing from the previous article, we talk about the hakama one of the Japanese traditional clothing by practical aspect
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1, Is hakama a kimono?
2, Hakama worn by Samurai on the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo
3, Is the hakama formal wear or informal wear?
4, What is the correct length and width of hakama?
5, Can women wear hakama of samurai?
6, How to wear the hakama?
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1, Is hakama a kimono?
We suppose that you have ever heard the name of kimono, wafuku in another name, if you are a Japan lover.
Kimono, wafuku in another name is the colllective term of Japanese traditional wear.
Kimono, wafuku in another name has two categories: one category is a kimono like a robe, one piece kimono with wide sleeved and fasten with the sash.
Another category is the hakama which is a two piece kimono, wafuku in another name, we wear pleated wide pants over the dougi. Dougi is a short length kimono like a shirt, the length above the knee.
And when we talk about hakama, we can not avoid the word "samurai".
If you are a Japan lover, especially, if you are a fan of samurai movie of Akira Kurosawa, for example the Seven Samurai or Yojinbo, we are sure that you have ever seen the samurai wearing hakama, two piece kimono dougi and pleated long pants.
So, the hakama is two piece Kimono, pleated wide and long pants and dougi which llengh is above knee.
However, the name of hakama is not yet so popular in the United States, or in Europe, even though it has long history since 4th century in Japan and even though you often see on the samurai movie of Akira Kurosawa, like the Seven Samurai or Yojinbo.
2,Hakama worn by Samurai on the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo
Almost all samurai on the filmKurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo wearing hakama are moving fast, moving a lot and fighting fiercely with Katana sword.All samurai are jumping, running on the horse brilliantly on the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo but samurai are well keeping the shape of kimono.
Do you think that the light and strong movement of Samurai on the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo are cool?
Many of lovers of Samurai or lovers of the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo may have a dream;7
"I want to try on the the kimono of samurai, Hakama!"
Some enthousiastic fan of the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo try to learn budou, Japaenese martial arts like aikido, kendo and ninjutsu, technique of Ninja, but all fan of film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo are not always lovers of martial arts like aikido, kendo and innjutsu. These type of persons, fan of film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbomight be only lovers of the kimono of samurai , hakama and dougi.
I know some persons in the USA who have sewn their own hakama, pleated wide pants of samurai and wear on as their special outfit.These persons who are lovers of hakama, kimono and the film film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo seems to be difficult where and how can purchase kimono, hakama of samurai out of Japan.
I am so surprised to hear that some lovers of the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo have sewn hakama by thierselves.
There are not such a passionate persons for the kimono, hakama of samurai in Japan, even though under the boom of the Demon slayer, big hit Japanese anime among wide range of generation. Some Japanese young people buy some costume of the main charactor of the Demon slayer, Kamado Tanjiro through domestic online store but the quality of hakama is not always guaranteed.
We suppose that the lovers of the film Kurosawa are looking for more authentic hakama of samurai.
However, there is some problem.
Many people know the name of "Samurai"but not Samurai's wear "Hakama".
Our online store, Kyoto Handicraft Center Official Online Store passionates to spread more the culture of hakama in the world, the hakama "Samurai Zoroye" a serie of Hakama and dougi realizes two contradicotory aspects:
*EASY TO WEAR ON
*AUTHENTIC SHAPE of HAKAMA, SAMURAI
The pattern of "Samurai Zoroye" seems modern and stylish, you will find some vairiation of collar which realizes your fashionable cordination.
3, Is Hakama really formal wear?
In Japan, when we talk about Hakama, we often remember of the formal hakama we wear at the ceremony like wedding party, graduation ceremonies of collages or universities, or hakama and kimono for Japanese martial arts like Kendo, Aikido... which might be well known style of kimono among lovers of Japanese martial arts and lovers of saurai.
This is why people in Japan often belive that the hakama is special attire for the ceremony and Japanese martial arts.
Here, please remember again some scnene of the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo.
Samurai on the the film Kurosawa, Seven Samurai or Yojinbo are fighiting so hard on wearing hakama which many Japanese people belive that a formal attire now!
The hakama that samurai wears as a daily outfit or for the battlefield is not a ceremonial attire.
The Hakama is an extremely practical outfit for Samurai.
As you know, there is a "Kimono" the type of one-piece like a robe, Yukata.
However, this kind of one length kimono is not prcatical, the body movement is limited.
If you wear at first one length short kimono like a shirt, Dougi, and next, you wear pleated wide pants "hakama", this attire should be perfect for busy and active modern people like us.
The appearance seems heavy but so light and easy to move, and you can run and jump easily!
This is the example of uniform Hakama style of the Japanese restaurant in Kyoto Handicraft Center.
This uniform is also by the reproduced by Tobari sewing which is engage in the Samurai Zoroye sold on our online store, Kyoto Handicraft Center Official Online Store. The materials are so light and this is a hakama for work, so the lenght is shorter than ankles and can cordinate with the leather shoese as above photo.
If you are a lover of ssamurai, lover of the film Kurosawa Seven Samurai or Yojinbo, please try one of the Samurai Zoroye.
4, What is the correct length and width of Hakama?
When you shop on the Japanese online store like our online store, Kyoto Handicraft Center Official Online Store, you might worry about the size esepcially for the clothing like kimono and Hakama of samurai, Samurai Zoroye.
Please note that the size of Hakama, Samurai Zoroye is well flexible for the length and width.
The size of hakama, Samurai Zoroye is as follows;
Please see the drowing for your reference.
Size M (A set of Dougi &Hakama) |
Size L (A set of Dougi & Hakama) |
Size XL (A set of Dougi &Hakama) |
Your height(inch):65-69
*Hakama (inch)A:35 *Dougi(inch) A:28.5(length of your arm:27.5-30.5), B(Your weist:33.5-51), C(Your upper body length:39) |
Your height(inch):69-73
*Hakama (inch)A:37 *Dougi(inch) A:28.5(length of your arm:27.5-30.5), B(Your weist:33.5-51), C(Your upper body length:39) |
Your height(inch):73-79
*Hakama (inch)A:39 *Dougi(inch) A:28.5(length of your arm:27.5-30.5), B(Your weist:33.5-51), C(Your upper body length:39) |
**Collars and belt are all same length
Collars(inch) :35,
Belt(inch):118
If you want to wear hakama like a formal wear, the kength of hakama shold be good at the ankle, and if you want to wear hakama like a daily outfit, the length of hakama should be little bit shorter than ankle.
And if you squeeze the hem, the hakama should become a Ninja style or horse riding style.
For the coordination, we recommend you to wear setta or zori or geta as follows.
But, you can coordinate with your own shoes too.
As the Hakama is originally one of the popular wear for samurai, wearing hakama as a daily outfit till the begining of 20th century. The western shoes have been already brought to Japan at the end of 19th century, samurai ware cordinating hakama and western leather shoes then. Cordinating hakama and western leather shoese or sportive sneakers too.
You can enjoy yur fashion more freely and more uniquely with hakama of Samurai "Samurai Zoroye".
5, Can women wear hakama of samurai?
If you are a woman, please do not hesitate to wear hakama.
We recommend you to try on.
Hakama has been worn by noble woman the length is so long to cover their foot totally.
And actually, for the guraduating ceremony, a lot of female students wear hakama, because hakama is a symbolof the women's freedom. As we have already mentioned the hakama that the samurai worn since long time ago is easy to wear, easy to move and for women, the hakama have brought her the active social life.
6, How to wear hakama of samurai "Samurai Zoroye".
Please see the following movie.
Backles and zippers will helpyou to more confortable kimonoand hakama life.
And this Samurai Zoroye is so light and easy to move.
This stylish and cool degined Japanese samurai wear, Hakama, Samurai Zoroye will bring a dream that you can move, run fast like Seven samurai or Yojinbo of the film Kurosawa.
If you are inmtereseted in the Samurai Zoroye, please click here.
Thank you so much for reading to the end.